No.  9S» 
A  SKETCH 


03 


THE     LIFE 


t>F 


CJAPT.   flEDLEY   VICARS, 


HE 


CHRISTIAN  SOLDIER. 


*lO  God!  wash  me  from  all  my  sins  in  my  Saviour's 
felood,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow.  Fill  me  with  Ute 
Holy  Ghost  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.1' 


SOL*!***/  *R*«*  AMOC-IATION  *.  X.  C*U*CH  t<fVTS. 

mi. 


The  following  akelch  of  Capt.  Jledley  Yiesra,  from 
his  life  by  Miss  Marsh,  &as  frees  prepared  taping  thafc 
thus  abridged  it  may  obtain  wide  circulation,  and 
under  the  blessing  of  God,  proTC  jnore  extensively 
useful  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Confederate  Army,  who 
have  left  their  homes  and  are  exposing  their  lives  in 
our  defence. 


THE   YOUNG   OFFICER. 


Hedley  Vicars  was  born  ir.  the  Mauritius  on  the  7th  of 
December,- 182G.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the  Royal  En- 
gineers. When  the  boy  was  12  years  old,  that  father's  dying 
hand  was  placed  upon  his  head,  with  the  prayer  that  he 
might  be  a  good  30'idier  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  co  ''fight  man- 
fully under  His  banner"  as  to  glorify  His  holy  name. 

From  this  time  Hedley's  love  for  his  mother  deepened  into 
that  peculiar  form  of  protecting  tenderness  which  seems  the 
prerogative' of  the  widow's  son.  This,  together  with  much 
gontleness,  and  a  sensitive  regard  for  the  feelings  of  others, 
combined  with  singular  strevigUi  a&d  steadfastness  of  pur- 
pose, contributed  to  form  his  nobie  and   beautiful  character. 

On  Christmas,  1843,  his  mother  received  a  letter  annonnc- 
H»g  that  her  sen  had  obtained  a  commission  in  the  line,  writ- 
ten by  the  same  hand  which,  on  Good  Friday,  1855,  inform- 
ed her  how  faithfully  unto  death  that  commission  had  been 
fulfilled.  Ho  was  an  aiflent  lover  of  his  profession,  and, 
from  first  to  last,  devoted  to  its  duties. 

In  writing  to  his  motkei  ai>  account  of  his  first  review, 
with  its  fatigues  of  marching,  skirmishing,  and  firing,  he 
adds  with  boyish  pride:  "But  my  aeal  for  the  service  kept 
me  up." 

In  the  autumn  of  1844,  he  returned  home  to  take  leave  of 
his  family  at  Ladgford  Grove,  in  Essex,  before  sailing  for 
Corfu.  His  elder  sister  well  remembers  his  joyous  bearing 
as  he  first  exhibited  himself  in  the  Queen's  uniform,  and  her 
own  admiration  of  the  bright,  intelligent  countenance,  broad 
shoulders,  and  well  knit,  athletic  figure  of  her  young  soldier 
brother. 

A  few  weeks  afterward,  he  sailed  for  Corfu— now  fairly 
launched  in  the  world  in  a  profession  beset  with  tempta- 
tions. Ho  still  retained  the  frank  demeanor  and  generous 
disposition  which  distinguished  him  as  a  boy;  but  at  this 


4  THE    Y0t7NG    OFFICII. 

period  of  his  fife,  his  reckless  disposition  led  lain  into 
scenes  of  which  his  conscience  disapproved,  and  into  ex- 
cessess  which,  though  nevsr  matured  into  habits,  and  by  the 
grace  of  God,  early  and  forever  abandoned,  w:ere  ever  af- 
terwards the  subject  of  bitter  and  sorrowful  repentance. 

The  97th  Regiment,  to  which  he  belonged,  was  ordered 
to  Jamaica  in  1818.  While  there  his  life  was  one  of  gene- 
ral recklessness,  though  often  under  strong  religions  impres- 
sions and  convictions  of  sin,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing extracts.  Writing  to  his  mother  from  Maroontown,  af- 
ter hearing  of  her  illness,  he  says,' 

"1  see  it  all  now,  my  darling  mother.  Ever  since  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  last  letter  I  have  been  in  a  dreadful  state  of 
mind.  I  feel  that  1  deserve  God's  punishment  for  my  tin- 
dutiful  conduct  towards  the  fondest  of  mothers;  but  the 
thought  had  never  before  occurred  to  me  that  He  might  see 
fit  to  remove  her  from  me.  What  agony  I  have  endured, 
wliat  sleepless  nights  I  have  passed  since  the  perusal  of 
that  letter.  The  review  of  my  past  life,  especially  the  re- 
trospect of  the  last  two  years,  has  at  last  quite  startled,  and 
at  the  same  time  disgusted  me.  You  will  now  see  the 
surest  signs  of  repentance  in  my  future  conduct,  and  be- 
lieve me,  as  far  as  in  me  lies,  never^shall  another  moment's 
anxiety  bo  caused  you  by  your  dutiful  and  now  repontant 
son." 

Five  months  later  he  writes  : 

"  My  darling  mother,  I  do  love  you,  and  that  fondly,  al- 
though I  have  often  (may  God  Almighty  forgive  me)  rebel- 
led against  your  wishes.  Mother,  I  ask  your  forgjveness  for 
what  is  past}  you  know  not  what  real  anguish  some  of  jour 
letters  have  caused  me,  and  although  1  havo  tried  to  drown 
the  voice  of  conscience  after  reading  them,  a  still,  small 
voice  has  always  been  whispering  in  my  ear,  and  kept  me 
from  many  a  sin." 

In  writing  to  his  sistCT  at  the  same  time,  he  alludes  to  his 
forebodings  of  an  early  death,  and  wishes  he  were  "  pre- 
pared :" 

"I  am  no  coward,  but  the  thought  of  death  is  solemn,  and 


TSE   YOUNG    OFFICER.  5 

the  idea  of  dying  far  away,  with  no  mother  or  sister  to  give 
me  comfort  in  my  last  moments,  is  sad  enough  -,  yet  I  hqpe 
the  effect  of  these  reflections  is  wholesome,  and  will  make 
me  consider  seriously  whether  J  am  fit  to  die." 
Again  he  writes  ." 

"I  must  tell  you  of  the  death  of  a  brother  officer,  Lieut. 
Binden.  He  died  en  the  12th  of  May.  Poor  fellow,  his  was 
a  short  but  painful  illness.  When  I  went  into  his  room,  the 
eun  was  shining  brightly  through  the  windows,  .the  birds 
were  singing  cheerily,  and  the  merry  laugh  of  the  light- 
hearted  soldiers  (plainly  audible  from  their  barracks)  grated 
harshly  on  my  ear,  He  was  dead!  Looking. on  his  calm 
and  placid  face,  I  could  hardly  believe  that  I  was  not  gaz- 
ing on  the  living  man.  But  alas!  his  soul  had  fled  !  With 
God's  help  I  trust  I  have  learned  a  lesson  and  a  warning 
from  his  sudden  death.  He  was  buried  the  same  evening 
in  the  small  grave-yard  near  the  cantonment,  and  I,  as  se- 
nior subaltern,  had  command  of  the  firing  party.  When  we 
nrrived  the  twilight  was  fast  verging  into  darkness,  and  the 
funeral  serviee  was  read  by  the  light  of  a  candle.  This  is 
soon  over,  and  then  all  retire  from  the  g-rave  except  myself 
and  an  armed  party  of  forty  often.  We  then  give  the  vol- 
leys— the  roiling  echoes  are  still  reverberating,  when  the 
earth  is  thrown  in,  and  all  is  over.  Such  has  been  the  mel- 
ancholy end  of  my  poor  friend  and  messmate.  I  was  deep- 
ly affected,  and  could  not  restrain  my  tears.  I  felt  my  voice 
choked  as  I  gave  the  command,  'Fire  three  volleys  into  the 
air.'  *  *  *  *  *  * 

•"I  have  got  command  of  a  nice  company.  The  men  are 
mostly  well  behaved.  My  endeavor  has  always  been  to  be 
■kind  as  well  as  strict,  and  I  believe  iny  men  wouid  4o  any- 
thing for  me. 

"  Now,  dearest  mother,  good  by.  Take  ea*e  of  your  health, 
if  not  for  your  own  sake,  at  least  for  the  sake  of  your  ever 
fond  and  affectionate  son,  Hsdley." 

We  close  this  reference  to  his  life  in  Jamaica  by  an  ex- 
tract from  the  letter  of  a  friend  who  belonged  to  his  regi- 
ment : 

"Ftam  the  first  day  I  saw  Vicars  at  Zantee  in  1846.1  wae 


I  TIIE    CHRISTIAN    S03LDIIR. 

struck  with  his  manly  air,  and  the  peculiar  open  truthfulness 
of  his  eye.  He  was  at  this  time  quite  taken  up  by  the  gaie- 
ties of  the  island.  We  quitted  for  .Malta-,  whence  in  i£4S, 
we  sailed  for  Jamaica.  During  the  voyage,  he  used  to  dress 
as  a  sailor,  and  delighted  in  making  himself  useful  to  the 
crew.  In  Jamaica  he  had  the  advantage  of  attending  an 
excellent  ministry,  which  had  some  effect  upon  him,  but 
again  he  was  led  away  by  the  influence  of  evil  companisnsv 
At  this  time,  as  I  aftewards  heard  from  his  own  lijjs,  he  to- 
tally neglected  prayer  and  the  reading  of  the  Bible,  and  con- 
sequently lost  the  power  of  resisting  temptation." 


THE  CHRISTIAN  SOLDIER. 

The  97th  left  Jamaica  for  Halifax.  N.  S.,  in  June  1851,  ana 
here  we  commence  the  career  of  Hedley  Yiears  as  a  Chris- 
tian soldier. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  Nov.,  1851,  that  while  waiting  the 
return  of  a  brother  officer  in  his  room,  be  idly  tinned  oves 
the  leaves  of  a  Bible  which  lay  en  the  table,  'the  words 
caught  his  eye,  "The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  His  eon,  cleans- 
eth  us  from  all  sin."  Closing  the  book  he  said,  "if  this  be 
true  for  me,  henceforth  1  will  live  by  the  grace  of  God.  aB  a 
man  should  live,  who  ha&  been  washed  i:a  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ."  That  nvght  be  seartely  slept,  pondering  m  his 
heart  whether  it  were  presumptuous  or  not  to  claim  an  in- 
terest in  these  words.  During  those  wakeful  hours  he  was 
watched,  we  cannot  doubt,  with  deep  and  loving  interest  by 
ihe  one  who  never  siumbereth  nor  sleepeth,  and  k  was  said- 
of  him  in  Heaven,  f*  be  hold  he  prayeth."  in  answer  to  these 
prayers,  he  was  enabled  t>o  believe,  as  he  arose  in  the  morn- 
ing, that  the  mes3age  of  pence  was  true  for  him — "a  faith- 
ful saying  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation."  The  paat,  he 
sai-J,  then,  is  blotted  out,  whp.t  I  have  to  dp  is  to  go  forward*.* 
I  cannot  return  Jo  the  sins  from  which  my  Saviour  has 
cleansed  me  with  his  blood. 

On  the  morning  which  succeeded  that  merno?able  day,  he 
bought  a  large  Bible, ^md  placed  it  open  on  the  table  in  his 
sitting  room,  determined  that  an  open  Bible  for  the  futuse 


tflE    CBftfSTTAN    S0LME1L  7 

t 

s'hould  be  bis  colours.  "It  was  to  speak  for  me,1'  he  8aid, 
41  before  I  wa-s  strong  enough  to  speak  for  myself."  His 
friends  came  as  usual  to  his  rooms,  and  did  not  altogether 
like  his  new  colours.  One  remarked  flhat  be  'bad  turned 
Methodist,  and  with  a  shrug  retreated.  Another  ventured 
to  warn  ham  not  to  become  a  hypocrite.  "  Bad  as  you  were, 
I  never  thought  you  would  oerne  to  this,  old  fellow!"  So 
for  the  most  pact  his  quarters  were  deserted  by  his  late  com- 
panions. During  six  or  seven  months  he  met  no  slight  op- 
position  at  the  mess,  and  -h'ard  work,  as  he  said,  to  stand 
fois  ground.  But  the  promise  d-id  not  fail  "The  righteous 
shall  hold  on  his  way;  and  he  that  katA  dUan  kanit,  shall 
wax  stronger  and  stronger." 

"  As  ho  felt  he  had  bees  much  foagiven,"  writes  a  friend, 
"So  in  proportion  was  his  eves:  burning  and  increasing  love 
to  Him  whom  he  had  so  long  giieved  by  hds  sins.  The  name 
cf  Christ  was  ever  on  his  lips  and  in  his  breast.  Much  grace 
was  given  kim  to  ooufess  S esus  before  others,  and  when  ad- 
jutant, his  example  asid  rebukes  to  men  for  swearing  carried 
great  weight.,  arad  showed  his  zeal  for  the  honor  of  God. 
•The  adjutancy  of  his  regiment  was  offered  to  him  by  his 
Colonel  in  1852,  with  these  flattering  words:  '  Vicars,  yo* 
are  the  man  I  can  best  trust  with  responsibility.'" 

From  his  diary  we  make  the  following  extracts :  ' 

July  3,  1852.  Rode«out  to  visit  Brunt,  a  poor  ordnance  Is.- 
bor3r;»read  and  prayed.wkh  him  for  nearly  an  hour;  he  ap. 
pears  to  be  very  ill,  but  all  his  hopes  are  iflxed  m  Christ. 

5th.  Rose  at  half  past  five,  read  a  chapter  in  Bogarty;  t 
feel  I  am  but  little  advanced  as  yet;  evil  thoughts  during 
the  day;  read  with  Corporal  Cranny  for  an  hour;  wouZd  that 
I  were  more  like  him;  from  aojt  having  prayed  for  (Sod's 
blessings  on  what  I  was  going  «o  read,  1  felt"  little  comfort 
(from  it;  and  did  not  offer  to  pray  with  him,  as  I  was  afraid 
I  would  break  down;  read  and  prayed  with  Brunt. 

9th.  Awoke  sleepy  and  dull,  but  felt  much  happier  after 
prayers;  lost  my  temper  cure  or  twice  with  the  men.;  I  fee* 
that  I  am  unable  of  myself  to  do  any  thing  aright;  read 
Luke  15,  with  Cranny  and  prayed;  in  the  evening  I  becaoa* 
unhappy  from  the  thoughts  uf  all  my  former  sins. 


S  THE  CHRISTIAN  SOLDIER.  , 

• 

28th.  Was  preserved  in  answer  to  prayeT  from  an  evil 
temper  at  drill.  Oh!  my  God,  grant  it  mny  be  always  bo  ; 
read  and  prayed  with  poor  Brunt;  lour  of  the  97th  soldien 
came  and  sat  down  ;  I  have  great  hopes  of  all;  was  enabled 
to  speak  to  them  pretty  freely. 

26th.  I  begin  to  see  more  clearly  every  day  the  depravity 
of  my  own  heart;  I  spoke  ill-naturedly  of  one  or  two;  I 
would  that  I  could  do  two  things  ;  never  speak  about  myself 
and  never  speak  evil  of  any  one. 

27th.  Have  had  happy  thoughts  of  Christ  to-day  ;  Oh  I 
what  cause  have  I  to  love  him. 

March  23.  Lord  Jesu3  I  would  give  myself  up  to  thee,  to 
be  led  by  thee  in  all  things;  give  me  greater  energy  and 
zeal  in  the  performance  of  my  duties;  enable  me  to  please 
my  Colonel,  and  yet  to  please  Thee. 

The  97th  landed  in  Eng'and  in  May  ISO.1?,  and  the  family 
of  Hedley  Vicars  were  again  made  happy  by  his  presence. 
Blessed,  and  a  blessing  wherever  he  went,  it  would  be  be- 
yond the  limit  of  these  few  extracts  to  tell  of  all  his  labors 
in  his  Master's  cause,  and  of  the  influence  for  good  which* 
he  exerted  in  whatever  company  he  was  thrown. 

When  on  guard  at  Canterbury,  he  writes: 

"I  was  struck  with  a  proof  that  God  is  no  respecter  of 
persons,  and  has  his  own  people  in  every  class.  I  saw  two 
wretched  looking  men  picking  up  pieces  of  rag,  as  I  tlfought, 
in  front  of  the  guard  tent.  After  they  had  collected  several 
they  sat  down.  I  went  to  them,  and  found  they  were  col- 
lecting pieces  of  meat  and  biscuit  that  had  been  thrown 
away  by  the  men  after  dinner.  These  they  ate  ravenously. 
I  got  them  some  clean  meat,  and  conversed  with  them  about 
ten  minutes.  They  seemed  surprised  that  an  officer  'in  such 
tine  clothes,'  talked  to  them  about  Christ.  One  of  them 
had  been  a  stoker  in  a  railway;  who  had  been  run  over  by 
a  tiain  which  had  smashed  his  hand  and  foot,  yet  he  could 
talk  with  delight  of  the  mercy  of  God  his  Saviour,  and  of 
His  goodness  and  forbearance  !  Who  knows  but  that  I  may 
meet  and  recognise  these  poor  fellows  in  Heavcm" 


THE   CHRISTIAN   SOLDIER.  9 

Again  he  writes  : 

"I  was  dining  with  a  nice  family  near  'Canterbury,  and 
met  ajarge  party.  I  noticed  opposite  to  me  a  very  pleasant 
looking  fellow,  and  was  struck  by  Ins  quiet,  calm  manner 
and  countenance.  After  he  had  adjourned  to  the  drawing- 
room,  I  asked  him  if  he  belonged  to  the  Army  Prayer  Union? 
To  which  he  said  'yes.'  We  became  friends  at  once.  He 
said,  'there  is  a  man  in  the  97th  whom  I  want  to  know;  his 
name  is  Vicars.'  I  replied,  '  there  is  a  man  in  the  Rifle 
Brigade,  whom  I  want  to  know;  it  is  Captain  Hammond* 
We  were  at  each  other's  service.  On  Saturday  he  came  to 
see  me,  and  staid  some  time.  He  is  a  delightful  fellow.  I 
sent  for  Cay,  and  we  had  a  happy  time  of  communion  to- 
gether. It  is  a  great  blessing  to  have  such  a  brother  officer 
as  Cay.  He  is  one'in  a  thousand.  We  often  walk  together, 
and  he  generally  comes  up  to  my  barracks  after  mess,  and 
we  read  the  Bible,  converse  about  heavenly  things,  and  end 
in  prayer." 

He  writes  to  his  mother  from  Gibraltar,  February  1  Ith,  on 
board  a  coal  hulk: 

"Dearest  Mathet  —  Here  I  am,  thank  God,  safe  and  sound  ; 
but,  alas!  in -quarantine  for  seven  days.  We  had  a  prospe- 
rous voyage  and  delightful  weather.  I  was  in  hopes  that  I 
should  have  had  o  cabin  to  myself,  but  I  was  doubled  in 
with  two  cadets  in  the  East  India  service.  ■  At  first  I  was 
strongly  inclined  to  avoid  the  reproach  of  the  Cross,  and  not 
to  make  a  mark  of  myself  by  kneeling  or  reading  the  Bible 
in  their  presence  before  retiring  to  rest;  but  God  gave  me 
grace  to  overcome  this.  Still  it  shows  me  what  a  coward  I 
am,  that  I  shouJd,  even  for  an  instant,  be  tempted  to  hide  my 
colours,  and  be  ashamed  to  confess  Christ  1" 


*  Capt.  Maximilian  Hammond,  Rifle  Brigade— This  brave 
and  Christian  young  officer  fe41  in  the  Redan,  while  "making 
a  pathway  for  his  men.  in  the  final  assault  upon  Sebastopol, 
September  8th,  L855,"  honored  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him.  Faithful  unto  death  in  the  service  of  the  Kings  of 
kings,  as  in  his  duty  to  his  Queen  and  country,  he  has  receiv- 
ed, we  doubt  not,  "a  crown  of  gloiy,  which  fadeth  not  away." 


10  THE   WAR. 

THE     WAR. 

Scarcely  had  Hedley  Vicars  sailed  for  Gibraltar,  when  the 
startling  order  for  an  army  to  proceed  from  England  to  the 
East,  shook  the  heart  of  peaceful  England  to  the  oentre. 
Parting  words  were  spoken  and  farewell  blessings  given  to 
extend  over  fields  of  bloodshed  and  death.  At  length  came 
the  notice  of  the  97th  being  under  orders.  Hedley  hurried 
home  to  say  farewell  to  all  most  dear -to  him.  At  Becken- 
ham,  among  beloved  friends,  there. we  find  him,  on  the  eve- 
ning of  his  arrival,  addressing  a  number  of  the  navvies  at 
the  reading-room  of  the  village.  It  was  crowded,  and  many 
more  surrounded  the  doors.  He  spoke  to  them — "  Prepare 
to  meet  thy  God" — and  no  man,  on  his  dying  bed,  could 
have  spoken  with  greater  solemnity  and  earnestness.  There 
he  stood,  a  strong  young  man,  amidst  strong  young  men, 
"  putting  himself  alongside  of  us  as  a  fellowsinner,"  as  one 
©f  thenrsaid,  "yet  so  food  now,  and  such  a  man  withal  1" 
As  they  crowded  round  to  say  farewell,  and  wish  him  safe- 
ty and  success,  they  were  heard  saying  among  themselves, 
"it  is  a  pity  such  a  fine  fellow  as  that  should  go  to  be  shot." 

On  his  way  to  the  station  he  visited  a  dying  man  at  Syd- 
enham, with  whom  he  prayed.  The  man  said  "he  never 
heard  such  a  prayer:  it  went  straight  to  his  heart!" 

While  waiting  for  the  train,  he  spoke  to  a  dear  friend  of 
the  c,omfort  of  love  between  Christian  friends,  and  then 
added,  in  a  low  under  tone,  yet  slightly  hurried,  "I  have  one 
last  favor  to  ask  of  you  ;  when  I  am  shot,  write  to  my  moth- 
er;  see  her  when  you  can,  comfort  her  as  God  will  teach 
you."  Very  early  in  the  morning  of  the  day  he  left  for  Lon- 
don, he  and  his  mother  met  for  prayer.  He  knelt  long  by 
her  side,  pouring  out  his  heart  in  pleadings  with  God  for 
her,  that  grace  and  strength  might  be  given  for  every  hour 
of  need.  Strengthened  in  spirit  by  that  prayer,  she  was 
able,  with  his  sisters,  to  go  with"  him  to  the  station.  The 
remembrance  of  his  last  look^,  hi3  last  embrace,  his  last 
blessing,  still  dwells  in  their  hearts,  and  makes  that  parting- 
pluce  Seem  almost  like  holy  ground. 

♦  A  few  days  before  the  97th  left  for  their  embarkment,  many 
of  the  men  were  heard  speaking  with  affection  and  respect 
of  this  their  favorite  officer.     One  of  them  named  Reynolds, 


THE    HOSPITAL.  11 

said,  "Since  Mr.  Vicars  became  good,  he  has  steadied  about 
four  hundred  men  in  the  regiment/'  "Four  hundred!"  was 
repeated  with  surprise. 

"I  don't  mean  that  he  lias  made  all  the  four  hundred  as 
good  as  himself;  that  he  couldn't.  I  know  enough  about 
religion  to  know  that  God  alone  could  do  this.  But  while  he 
was  adjutant,  and  since  too,  he  has  sobered  and  steadied 
nigh  four  hundred  of  the  drunkenmost  and  wildest  men  in 
the  regiment.  There  is  not  a  better  officer  nor  a  better  man 
in  the  Queen's  service." 

It  was  a  lovely  morning,  the  19th  of  May,  when  the  dear 
friend  whom  we#here  mentioned  drove  to  the  Waterloo  sta- 
tion to  say  the  last  farewell  to  Hod  ley  Vicars.  The  sunshine 
glittering  on  the  bayonets  of  the  men  as  they  marched  up 
the  steps  to  the  station  seemed  to  mock  the  tears  of  wive'?, 
sisters  and  triends,  who  accompanied  them.  A  young  wife  was 
seen  to  quit  her  hold  of  her  husband's  hand,  and  approach- 
ing Hedley  Vicars  with  a  manner  of  respectful  confidence, 
said:  J"  Oh,  Mr.  Vicars^  you  will  sec  that  Cottrell  writes  to 
me  regular,  won't  you  ?  It.  is  my  only  comfort  to  know  that 
you- will."  The  kindness  and  sympathy  of  his  rone  as  ho 
answered,  told  that  her  confidence  was  not  misplaced.  Du- 
ring the  delay  of  the  tram  those  dear  friends  read  together 
in  the  waiting-room  thal2lst  Psalm,  parting  with  the  words, 
"  The  Lord  is  thy  keeper." 


THE    HOSPITAL* 

I'Ljhe  97th  was  destined  to  form  part  of  the  Anglo-French 
force  in  Greece,  and  we  find  Hedley  Vicars  writing  from  the 
Pirceus,  telling  of  his  first  walk  round  Athens,  and  the  beau- 
ty of  the  country,  and  blessing  his  friends  for  their  welcome 
letters.     He  writes: 

"Jesus  is  very  precious  to  my  scrul;  my  all  in  all.  Often 
have  I  been  on  the  point  of  falling  away,  and  yet  His  arm 
has  held  me  up,  and  kept  me  from  bringing  dishonor  on  His 
blessed  name.     To  Him  be  all  tho~praise  and  all  the  glory." 

Again  : 

"We  ate  quartered  here  with   the  French,  who  have'up- 


12  THE    I10SF1TAL. 

wards  of  four  thousand  men.  They,  are  in  tents;  we  are 
now  in  bnrracks.  The  weather  is*  very  hot  and  the  climate 
bad.  We  are  now  in  quarantine.  as  the  cholera  has  broken 
out  amongst  the  French.  They  have  lost  two  ollicers  and 
one  hundred  men.  We  have  fipt  lost  a  man,  but  it  is  a  sol- 
emn time,  and  loudly  calls  upon  each  of  us,  '  Prepare  to 
meet  thy  God.'"  4 

It  was  the  love  of  Christ  constraining  him,  and  no  mere 
sense  of  duty  which  led  Hedley  Vicars  to  spend  the  greater 
part  of  his  days,  and  often  of  lit  a  nights,  in  the  pestilential 
air  of  the  crowded  hospitals.  Dearer  than  life  to  him  was 
the  hope  of  persuading  the  dying  to  look^o  Jesus,  and  pre- 
cious indeed  was  the  privilege  when  the  lighting  up  of  a  dy- 
ing eye  at  the  sound  of  that  beloved  name,  assured  him  that 
he  was  ministering  to  one  of  the  Saviour's  Hock — "  I  was  sick 
and  ye  visited  me" 

A  young  fellow-officer,  in  whom  ho  was  much  interested, 
writes: 

"1  have  been  thinking  over  th,o  time  we  spent  at  the  Pi- 
raeus, and  will  tell  you  of  anything  that  strikes  me.  I  was 
constantly  with  Vicars  there,  and  know  better  than  any  one 
else  what  his  daily  life  was.  He  never  for  a  moment  seed- 
ed to  forget  whoso  he  was.  WhenJie  was  in  camp  on  lirst 
landing  he  was  in  the  habit  of  going  out  for  hours  alone 
amongst  the  rocks  on  the  sea  shore,  having  only*  his  Bible, 
which  I  remember  he  told  me  Dr.  Marsh  called  '  his  sword.'  " 

There  was  no  chaplain  for  the  English  regiment  there. 
Part  of  the  services  was  generally  read  by  the  officers  i>  -wio 
men  of  their  own  companies  ;  and  the  officers  in  rotation 
took  the  duty  morning  and  evening  of  burying  the  dead, 
which  sometimes,  of  our  English  regiment  only,  after  the 
cholera  came,  exceeded  ten  daily.  Vicars  undertook  this 
duty  several  time  for  others,  and  seldom,  if  ever,  performed 
it  without  addressing  a  few  earnest  words  to  the  men  present. 
Soon  after  the  sickness  broke  out  he  used  regularly  to  visit  the 
hospitals,  reading  and  praying  with  the  dying  men,  and 
seizing  every  opportunity  to  speak  to  others  of  the  "on© 
thing  needful." 


THE   HOSPITAL.  13 

Again  he  writes  himself: 

Piimeus.  July  21,  1852. — I  know  that  what  I  have  to  tell 
you  will  cause  you  great  anxiety,  but  the  newspapers  will 
giVe  you  all  the  particulars  whether  I  will  or  not.  The  cho- 
lera has  been  raging  here  for  so'.r.e  time.  It  was  with  the 
French  alone,  but  the  day  before  yesterday  we  lost  one  man* 
and  since  then  nine  have  been  carried  off.  Oh,  deaiest 
friends,  pray  that  this  fearful  visitation  may  be  the  means  of 
awakening  solemn  thoughts  in  the  stoutest  hearts  among  my 
thoughtless  comrades,  and  leading  them  fbr  pardon,  peace 
and  safety,  to  Jesus  litis  Saviour  of  sinners."     *     *     *     * 

,(  Should  I^Ue  now  you  know  my  only  ground  of  hope,  my 
only  confidence,  my  only  assurance  is  in  the  cross- of  Jesus 
Christ  aird  in  the  knowledge  that  the  precious  blood  oi  Christ 
cleanseth  from  all  sin — word&as  full  of  sweetness  to  me  now 
as  on  the  day  that  they  were  first  made  to  my  soul  the  power 
of  God  unto  salvation." 

PiiUEUs,  July  25th. — "  Death  for  hours  has  been  busy  among 
our  poor  fellows  since  I  wrote.  Twenty-seven  have  fallen 
in  seven  days.  Do  you  remember  Reynolds  whom  you  no- 
ticed when  you  gave  the  hymn-book  at  Kensington  barracks'? 
1  buried  him  and  another  comrade  last  night.  I  had  intend- 
ed speaking  a  few  words  to  the  men  over  the  open  grave  of 
their  dead  comrades,  but  it  was  as  much  as  I  could  do  to  get 
through  the  service,  and  as  soon  as  I  began  to  speak  to  them 
afterwards,  I  could  not  for  the  life  of  me  help  crying  like  a 
child.  The  men  cried  and  sobbed  round  me.  It  was  no  use 
to  try  to  get  on,  so  I  ordered  them  to  '  fall  in,'  and  we  went 
mournfully  back  to  the  barracks.  Morning  and  evening  the 
dead  cart  leaves  the  hospital  for  the  grave-yard.  It  is  sad 
and  solemn,  but  I  trust  that  many  have  learned  a  lesson  that 
will  never  be  forgotten." 

Aug.  18. — "  About  seventy  of  my  hundred  and  seven  com- 
rades who  have  died  of  cholera,  were  men  whom  I  well 
knew.  I  do  hope  that  some,  nay,  that  many  amongst  them 
were  enabled  to  look  to  Jesus  in  their  last  moments.  God 
grant  that  we  may  find  such  to  have  been  the  case  when  we 
all  meet  at  the  last  day. 

"Poor  Cottrell  has  been  ill  again,  but  is  recovering.  The 
Scripture  reading  is  in  the  ward  where  he  i*.  and  he  is  very 


14  TEE   H03PITAL. 

Attentive,  a?  indeed  they  all  arc.  The  day  before  yesterday, 
•whilst  going  round  the  wards,  I  noticed  one  poor  young  fel- 
low who  had  been  admitted  about  an  hour  before.  His  eyes 
were  sunken,  and  his  hollovr  cheeks  an*d  his  blackened  face 
showed  that  the  fearful  disease  had  seized  upon  him  with 
the  grasp  of  death.  I  spoke  to  him  for  a  little  while  and 
then  passed  on  to  others.  Thenextday  his  bed  was  empty. 
One  Qf  the  orderlies  told  me  that  he  suffered  much  in  his 
mind  before  he  died.  He  had  his  senses  to  the  last  which 
is.  very  unusual.  He  asked  one  of  the  men  for  a  prayer- 
book  ;  not  one  was  at  hind.  He  then  said  'read  me  the 
first  chapter  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John.  At  its  close  he  said, 
4  I  'feel  murk  revived  in  my  mind' — and  died.  Dh,  we  will 
believe  that  he  was  enabled  to  '  behold  the  Lamb  of  Gocl 
which  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  woild.'  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  sorry  I  was  that  I  was  not  there." 

Aug.  21.  PlRCEUS. — "You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  there  is 
a  decrease  of  cholera.  The  last  man  we  have  lost,  one  of 
the  Light  Company,  was  admitted  in  hospital  last  night. 
Poor  fellow,  he  suffered  most  dreadfully;  it  was  painful  to 
etand  by  his  bedside.  I  remained  with  him  for  nearly  an 
hour  and  spoke  to  him  from  time  to  time  of  Jesus,  but  when- 
ever the  cramps  came  on,  his  screams  quite  drowned  my 
voice.  On  leaving  I  shook  hands  with  him,  his  were  black 
and  cold,  and  told  him  to  '  behold  the  Lamb  of  God  which 
taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world,  to  look  to  Jesus  'whose 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin.1  When  I  mentioned  the  name 
of  Jesus,  he  gave  me  such  a  wonderful  look,  full  of  peace 
and  resignation.  In  less  than  four  hours  afterwards  his  soul 
had  fled." 

He  writes  to  his  sister,  Sept.  27  : 

"Oh  dearest  Mary,  it  is  well  to  have  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  its  reality  in  ourhearts — what  solid  pence  and  rich 
enjoyment  wc  obtain  by  looking  unto  Jesus.  I  have  wit- 
nessed the  effect  of  even  the  name  of  Jesus.  I  have  no- 
ticed a  calm  and  peaceful  look  pass  more  than  once  over  the 
ghastly  face  of  the  dying,  as  that  blessed  name  passed  my 
lips.  May  we  not  hope,  deaiest  sister,  that  (as  it  was  with 
the  dying  thief)  even  at  the  hour  of  death,  faith  in  the  blood 
of  Jpsu-j  brtcrhed  in  the  soul  by  the  Holy  Ghost  has  <?et  more 


THE   HOSPITAL.  15 

jewels  in  the  Redeemer's  crown  from  among,  the  soldiers  of 
the  97th  Regiment  ?  God  grant  that  when  you  and  I  are 
summoned  before  the  bar  of  Christ,  we  may  meet  many 
such  clothed  in  white  robes  and  palms  in  their  hands. 

I  remember  I  often  used  to  visit  at  Halifax  a  corporal 
named  Cranny,  of  the  42nd  Highlanders,  who  was  left  be- 
hind in  hospital  when  his  regiment  left.  One  evening  when 
I  went  to  see  him,  he  said,  '  I  am  so  glad  you  are  come,  you 
always  speak  to  me  of  Him  of  whom  I  love  to  hear,  even 
Jesus  my  precious  Saviour.'  Shortly  before  he  breathed  his 
last,  he  asked  Dr.  Twining  to  read  Rom.  8th  to  him.  As  he 
read,  the <iying  man's  breath  became  shorter  and  his  face 
brighter,  and  as  the  las.t  words  fell  upon  his  ear,  '  Nor 
height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature  shall  be  able  to 
separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  -Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord,"  he  said,  '  Thank  you  sir,  that  will  do,'  and  died. 

Pirceus,  Nov.  2nd.  The  order  has  at  length  arrived  for  the 
97th  Regiment  to  hold  itself  in  readiness  for  immediate  em- 
barkation to  join  Lord  Raglan's  army.  There  can  not  be  a 
doubt  that  this  is  a  just  war  which  we  are  engaged  in,  and 
therefore  I  say  trie  sooner  we  are  '  let  loose'  the  better.  I 
think  the  Hessians  will  find  the  Celestials  rather  awkward 
customers  to  deal  with,  '  Nous  verrons.'  There  are  some 
people,  I  know,  who  can  not  imagine. how  any  christian 
could  ever  join  in  the  deadly  strife  of  battle,  but  I  can  only 
say  that  with  such  I  do  not  agree  ;.  so  that  1  shall  not  shrink 
from  my  duty  to  my  Queen  and  my  country,  the  Lord  being 
my  helper.  I  consider  war  to  bo  a  cruel  calamity,  but  as 
much  a  visitation  from  Heaven  as  cholera,  and,  as  on  the 
appearance  of  that  dieadful  malady,  we  do  not  sit  quietly 
.down  and  let  it  take  its  course,  but,  trusting  to  the  blessing 
of  God,  use  every  precaution  and  employ  every  means  to 
drive  it  from  amongst  us,  so  in  the  oase  of  this  war  with  the 
Russian  despot.  He  has  made  aggression  upon  a  country 
which  had  given  him  no  just  cause,  and  thus  disturbed  the 
peace  of  Europe,  and  let  loose  upon  us  the  horrors  of  war, 
and  shall  we  Brittons  let  him  have  his  own  way  and  tamely 
look  on1  God  forbid  I  Rather  will  we,  the  Lord  being  our 
1  shield  and  buckier,'  crush  the  evil  and  restore  peace  and 
qmetne»»  to  our  land. 


16  THE   CRIMEA. 


THE  CRIMEA. 

It  is  needless  here  to  describe  the  sufferings. of  the  Eng- 
lish Army  flaring  that  winter  before  Sebastopol.  Battles 
won  against  overwhelming  numbers  on  the  cold  soil  of  the 
Crimea,  by  weary  men,  worn  down  by  hunger,  bore  terrible 
witness  to  the  quenchless  nature  of  British  courage.  The 
men  who  stormed  the  heights  of  Alma,  who  in  the  dreadful 
fight  of  Inkerman,  conquered  again  amidst  fogs  and  dark- 
ness— who  at  Balaklava,  "  charged  a  whole  army  while  all 
the  world  wondered,''  such  men  have  proved  their  steel. 
Yet  these  very  men  have  been  seen  to  weep,  as,  night  after 
night,  succeeding  days  of  starvation  and  toil,  they  were  or- 
dered to  their  work  in  the  freezing  trenches.  Who  can  esti- 
mate what  they  must  first  have  endured..  It  was  amidst 
scenes  like  these  that  the  faith  of  Hedley  Vicars  was  to 
have  its  last  trial."  Sharing  as  he  did  the  general  toil  and 
privation,  he  was  ever  fulfilling  the  Apostle's  injunction, 
"  Bear  ye  one  another'6  burdens."  During  the*  severe  cold 
of  that  winter,  the  only  bed  he  allowed  himself  was  made 
of  stones  and  leaves,  till  the  arrival  of  a  fur  rug  from  Eng- 
land, sent  by  a  friend  who-was  dear  to  him.  Everything 
else  which  could  bear  the  name  of  luxuries,  even  of  common 
comfort,  was  givc^i  to  the  deeper  necessities  of  the  suffering 
soldiers. 

He  writes  to  his  sister,  Lady  Rayleigh : 

Camp  before  Sebastopol,  Nov.  29,  1854. 
My  ovtn  Darling  Clara. — I  rcceivod  your  delightful  letter 
yesterday,  together  with  three  from  Beckenham.      I  think  I 
never -had  a  richer  treat.         *  *         * 

We  had  delightful,  weather  sailing  up  "the  Bosphorus,  and 
the  scenery  was  charming.  In  the  Btack  Sea  we  encounter- 
ed stormy,  weather.  We  did  not  go  on  shore  at  Balaklava 
till  the  evening  of  the  20th.  The  rain  poured  in  torrents 
all  day.  We  landed  in  boats,  and  were  well  drenched  be- 
fore we  reached  the  encampment  ground,  looking  more  like 
drowned  rats  than  live  soldiers.  It  was  dark  before  the 
tents  were  pitched.  Parties  weie  at  ence  sent  out  to  collect 
fire  w><vJ,  the  wrecks  <*f  vessel*  furnishing  us  with  plenty 


-      THE  CRIMEA.  17 

of  material.  Soon  camp  fires  were  blazing  in  all  directions, 
and  officers  and  men  gathered  round  them  to  dry  their 
clothes  and  warm  themselves,  for  the  nights  here  are  bitterly 
cold.  I  can  assure  you  I  enjoyed  some  cheese  and  biscuit 
not  a  little.  But  before*  I  looked  after  myself,  I  saw  my 
company  as  snug  and  comfortable  as  adverse  circumstances 
would  admit  of,  and  afterwards  made  them 'a  littlo  speech 
around  the  bivouac  fires,  combining  as  well  as  I  could,  some 
religious  advice  with  a  few  words  about  our  duty  as  British 
soldiers,  and  ended  in  saying, 'Lads,  while  I  have  life,  I  will 
stand  by  the  colours,  and  I  know  you  wijl  not  desert  me.' 
The  poor  fellows  cheered  me  long  and  loud.  About  ten 
o'clock,  I  read  by  the  light  of  the  first  bivouac  fire,  Vs.  23d, 
90th  and  9 1st,  with  Capt.  Ingram,  and  derived  great  comfort 
and  peace  from  them.  Resting  on  Jesus  my  precious  Saviour, 
I  went  to  sleep  securely.  My  bed  was  made  of  dry  leaves 
with  a  stone  for  my  pillow,  and  but  for  the  biting  cold,  I 
should  have  slept  like  a  top.  On  the  morning  of  the  22nd, 
wc  received  orders  to  march  for  the  lines  before  Sebastopol, 
"and  came  in  sight  of  the  white  lines  of  the  English  and 
French,  after  a  rough  march  of  seven  miles.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  25th,  I  walked  up  the  hill  in  ouf  front,  and  had  a 
fine  view  of  the  magnificent  fortress  and  harbor  of  Sebasto- 
pol. I  could  clearly  see  the  masts  in  the  harbor  across  the 
water,  where  the  Russians  had  sunk  their  men-of-war. 
Whilst  admiring  the  place,  a  cannon  ball  from  one  of  then 
batteries  whizzed  past  my  ear.  I  have  been  told  since,  that 
the  Russians  think-nothing  of  firing  shells  and*  round  shot 
when  they  see  even  one  of  our  j>oor  fellows.  The  weather 
has  been  stormy  and  our  men  are  dying  with  the  cholera. 

The  duty  has  been  very  severe  in  the  trenches,  distant 
about  three  miles  from  the  camp.  I  was  in  them  from  five 
in  the  evening  till  five  the  next  morning,  and  also  on  out- 
lying piquet  the  whole  of  the  follewing  night,  sleeping  in 
the  open  air,  with  a  few  bushes  over  me.  I  could  hear  the 
tolling  of  the  great  bell  at  Sebastopol  and  the  voices  of  the 
Russians  working  in  their  fortifications,  as  plainly  as  could, 
be.  Yesterday  I  got  a  pint  of  water  to  wash  my  face  and 
hands,  and  sore!/  they  needed  it.  We  have  ^nothing  t©  com- 
plain of  in  th*  way  of  ration3.     I  get  a  pound    of  salt  pork 


13  THE   CRIMEA. 

and  a3  much  biscuit  as  I  can  eat  every  ilay.  The  othrr  day 
my  subaltern  and  a  party  of  men  pave  chase  to  a  young  bul- 
lock, close  to  the  Russian  lines;  they  caught  him,  and  we 
made  a  capital  dinner  of  part  of  him  this  afternoon. 

We  are  anxiously  waiting  for  Lord  Raglan  to  storm  Sc- 
ba'stopol  ;  for  though  wc  may  lose  many  in  so  doing,  yet  any- 
thing would  be*  better  than  seeing  our  line  soldiers  dying  as 
they  are  daily.  The  accounts  of  the  Russians  killing  our 
wounded  officers  and  men  are  true,  confirmed  by  all  here. 
We  all  hope  soon  to  have  an  opportunity  of  thrashing  these 
savages,  and  we  have  not  a  doubt  we  shall  do  so  when 
we  come  across  them. 

In  the  trenches  the  other  day,  one  of  our  men  amused  us 
much.  At  the  first  shell,  which  passed  close  to  him,  he 
dropped  down  on  his  back,  screaming  aloud  for  the  doctor, 
for  he  was  '  kilt  entirely  !'  The  doctor,  ran  up  to  hurt  and 
asked  him  where  he  had  been  hurt,  when  he  exclaimed, 
'  Och,  och  !  doctor,  clane  through  the  blanket!'  .1  have  the 
tent  to  myself,  Brinkley  being  on  duty  in  the  trenches.  It  is 
curiou3  wiiat  delightful  dreams  I  have  every  time  I  fall 
asleep.  Now  I  am  at  Tcrling,  surrounded  by  all  your  be- 
loved faces;  then,  again,  at  Beckenham,  with  those  I  love 
m  dearly.  At  another  time  I  am  going  to  read  to  old  Sophy  ; 
again,  sitting  by  the  fire  in  the  drawing-room,  telling  tales  of 
the  past  to  dear  John,  and  awake  to  find  my  teeth  chatter- 
ing, a  sharp  stone  bticking  into  my  side,  the  wind  howling 
in  gu6ts  and  squalls,  and  a  concert  of  cannon  aud  small  shot, 
with  vanatkms  from  English,  French,  and  Russian  perform- 
ers, instead  of  a  chant  in  the  hall. 

The  night  before  last,  one  of  my  beautiful  dreams  was  . 
dispelled  by  a  shaking  of  my  tent,  and  in  answer  to  who  is 
there  ?'  I  received  the  reply, '  Please,  sir,  a  staff  officer  has 
just  ridden  into  the  camp  to  bid  us  be  ready  at  a  moment's 
notice — the  Russians  are  moving  on  our  right  flank!'  'All 
right,'  said  I ;  and,  commending  myself  to  my  Heavenly 
Father,  fell  fast  asleep  again,  knowing  that  I  was  all  ready 
for  a  moment's  notice.  However  we  heard  no  more  of  it. 
While  I  write,  musketry  is  hard  at  work,  and  cannon  roar- 
ing. It  i3  with  difficulty  I  manage  to  scrape  together  time 
and  material  foi  wilting.    My  bastlova  to  dear  Edward  and 


T&F.   CRIMEA.  19 

to  dear  Lord  Rayleigh.     May  God  blese  him,  sou)  and  body-. 
Ever,  my  own  darling  Clara, 

Your  affectionate  brother,   .         *   Hedley. 

To  his  second  sister,  he  writes: 

M  The  rain  is  pouring  in  torrents,  but  I  have  this  night 
been  in  bed  for  a  wonder,  so  I  shall  have  a  little  time  to  dry  ; 
but  I  pity  the  poor  fellows  in  the  trenches,  200  of  our  men 
and  700  of  the  other  regiment.  The  men  of  all  the  British 
regiments  are  dying  every  day,  and  many  are  buried  with- 
out the  funeral  service.  We  are  now,  to  mend  matter?,  pla- 
ced on  balf  rations,  but  I  was  never  much  of  an  epicure,  so 
I  am  quite  contented  with  what  they  give  me.  Indeed,  I 
have  no  patience  with  fellows  that  are  always  grumbling. 
Our  hardships  certainly  are  very  gjreat,  but  as  soldiers  we 
ought  to  bear  them.  Many  officers,  I  hear,  are  resigning 
their  commissions.  I  can  only  say,  shame  on  those  who  de- 
sert their  country  in  this  time  of  need !  We. all  made  a 
great  mistake  in  not  bringing  warm  clothing  with  us  here. 
I  did  buy  a  comforter  though,  which  is  more  than  most  fel- 
lows have.  Thank  God  I  am  very  well  and  in  fine  spirits, 
only  hoping  that  Lord  Raglan  will  soon  let  us  try  our  hinds 
on  the  Russians.  *****.  Oh,  precious  lister!  from  whom 
I  may  so  soon  be  parted  here,  remember  Jesus,  and  never  be 
ashamed  to  confess  Christ  crucified  !  Jesus  has  bled  for  us, 
has  redeemed  us,  has  saved  us!  Oh,  then,  let  us  not  cause 
his  once  wounded  heart  .o  bleed  for  us  again  but  looking 
for  Heaven's  aid,  let  us  seek  never  to  grieve  him  more. 

"  It  is  six  months  since  I  have  been  in  reach  of  a  houso 
of  prayer,  or  have  had  an  opportunity  of  receiving  the  sac- 
•ramen't,  yet  never  have  I  enjoyed  more  frequent  or  procious 
communion  with  my  Saviour,  than  I  have  found  in  the  tren- 
ches or  in  my  tent.  When,  I  should  like  to  know,  could  one 
find  a  Saviour  more  precious,  than  when  bullets  are  falling 
around  like  hail  V 

"  December  18. — I  am,  thank  God,  quite  well:  never  bet- 
ter, and  what  is  more,  clean  !  You  know  my  weakness  for 
'  cataracts.'  Well,  I  have  contrived  to  get  one  every  day  for 
nearly  three  weeks,  but  then  I  take  more  pains  to  get  water 
than  most  fellows.  We  dined  to  day  off*  soaked  biscuits  fried 
in  lard,  a  capital  dish  ;  boiled  ration  pork,  very  good  \  pota- 


THE   CHIMB*. 

J^oes,  middling,  with  mustard  and  salt — my  wine  being  weak 
rum  and  water.  1  am  sure  drinking  spirits  is  a  bad  plan, 
and,  besides  being  injurious,  makes  a  man  colder  an  hour 
afterwards.  Each  officer  and  man  is  allowed  a  gill  of  rum 
daily,  but  I  never  drink  even  half  of  mine,  often  none  at  all. 
I  went  on  picquet  this  morning  at  half  past  four,  with  fifty 
men.  It  rained  hard  for  about  an  hour.  I  kept  up  a  jolly 
fire,  and  endeavored  to  write  a  letter  to  darling  mother, 
while  seated  opposite  its  blaze.  I  read  the  first  Epistle  of 
Peter,  and  then  folding  my  cloak  around  me,  and  stretching 
myself  close  by  the  watch-fire,  I  was  sound  asleep  in  ten 
minutes,  notwithstanding  the  roar  of  cannon  and  rattle  of 
musketry  which  kept  up  a  concert  during  the  night." 

All  this  time  the  .prayer  meetings  were  continued  in  his 
tent  at  every  opportunity,  and  wearied  aud  worn,  a*  he  often 
was  after  nights  on  picquet,  or  in  tho  trenches,  frequently 
before  he  rested,  he  was  found  in  the  hospital  tent.  He 
writes  : 

"  Wo  are  expecting  every  day  to  meet  the  enemy  in  open 
field,  or  to  storm  the  fortress.  I  wish  they  could  go  at  it  at 
once.  Be  not  anxious  about  me.  [  am  safe  in  the  arms  of 
my  Saviour.     I  know  it—lfeel  it — in  life  or  death. 

"  Camp  before  SEBASfOPOL,  Dec.  25th. — Thank  yon,  dear- 
est friend,  for  your  affecting  letter  from  Mr.  Halkett's  house. 
I  grieve  much  to  say,  that  there  is  no  hope  left  now  that 
dear  Halkett  *  might  be  a  prisoner  in  Sobastopol,  but  I  be- 
lieve he  is  in  the  presence  of  his  God,  clothed  in  the  spot- 
less robe  of  his  Redeemer's  righteousness.  The  man  who 
so  loved  the  14th  chapter  of  St.  John,  has  found  it  all  true  for 
him.     I  shall  make  the  motto  he  those   for   my  own,  and,  if 

*  Major  Douglas  Halkett,  who  fell  in  the  flower  of  his  age 
in  tho  charge  at  Balaklava.  His  thoughtful  and  benevolent 
character  had  won  for  him  the  name  of  "  Father  of  his  Re- 
giment !"  Brave  as  he  was  gentle,  his  gallant  bearing  was 
noticed  even  amidst  the  fury  of  that  death-charge.  The 
last  time  he  was  seen  Was  in  the  field  fearfully  wounded, 
holding  out  some  bank  notes  to  his  men,  with  the  character- 
istic words,  "  Take  them  for  the  wives  and  widows  at 
home  !" 


THE  TRENCHES.  21 

lam  to  fall  too,  I  hope  J  may  die  with  it  on  my  lips  :  '  In 
God  is  my  salvation  and  my  glory  ;  the  rook  of  my  strength 
and  my  refuge  is  in  God.'  Give  my  love  to  his  dear  young 
wife,  and  tell  her  I  pray  God  to  comfort  her.  Her  message 
went  to  my  heart.  I  know  not  that  I  could  have  '  saved  him,' 
but  I  would  have  carried  him  to  the  rear  or  died  in  the  at- 
tempt. I  have  prayed  that  Jesus  himself  would  comfort  her. 
I  know  He  will.  Bless  you,  my  own  mother,  sister,  friend 
and  counsellor.  Give  my  warmest  love  to  all  around  you, 
especially  your  honored  father  God  bless  him,  and  God 
bless  also  the  father  of  her  I  lov6  best  on  earth.  u  Christ- 
mas day,  1854.  I  am  for  out-lying  picquet  in  ten  minutes, 
and  have  but  time  to  wish  you  a  happy  Christmas.  It  is  so 
bitterly  cold,  I  can  scarcely  hold  my  pen.  I  have  enjoyed 
the  day  as  much  as  could  be  expected,  and  partook  of  the 
sacrament  with  (thank  God)  thirty  others.  May  our.Father, 
1  the  Father  of  all  mercies,'  keep  us  ever  '  looking  unto  Je- 
sus' our  Saviour." 

THE  TRENCHES. 

A  paragraph  in  the  public  press,  early  in  the  month  of 
January,  1855,  conveyed  the  first  intelligence  that  three  offi- 
cers had  been  found  dead  in  their  tents  from  the  effects  oi 
the  fumes  of  charcoal,  and  that  another  was  hanging  be- 
tween life  and  death  ;  that  other  was  Hedley  Vicars.  He 
had  returned  to  his  tent  Chilled  and  weary,  after  a  wild  and 
snowy  night  in  the  trenches.  Before  throwing  himself  on 
his  miserable  bed  of  leaves  and  stones,  he  told  his  servant, 
as  it  was  intensely  cold,  to  make  a  small  fire  ©f  charcoal 
in  the  dish,  and  to  leave  the  door  of  the  tent  partially  open, 
imagining  that  this  would  secure  him  from  any  injurious 
effects.  Providentially,  he  was  for  out-lying  picquet  that 
after-noon.  His  servant,  who  had  several  times  called  him, 
at  last  became  alarmed,  and  went  for  the  surgeon.  He 
found  him  returning  from  the  tent  of  another  officer  of  the 
07th.  fur  whom,  alas  !  Iiis  aid  had  come  too  late. 

Hedley  was  carried  into  the  open  air  and'  laid  on  the 
snow.  His  men  stood  round  him  wringing  their  hands. 
Some  assisted  the  medical  officer  in  chafing  with  snow  the 


22  THE   TRENCHES. 

body  of  him  they  loved,  in  hopes  of  restoring  vitality.  At 
length,  after  the  severe  methods  of  blistering  and  bleeding 
had  been  resorted  to,  consciousness  returned.  He  was 
spared  for  a  nobler  end,  to  fulfil  his  own  choice — "  As  a  sol- 
dier I  will  die!" 

A  serious  illness  followed  the  accident,  during  which  the 
tenderest  attentions  were  bestowed  by  his  fellow  officers 
and  the  men.     He  writes: 

January  8ih,  1855.  How  I  thank  God  that  no  one  but  myself 
slept  in  the  tent  that  night,  and  surely  I  have  cnuse  to  praise  Him 
for  His  goodness  in  snatching  me  from  the  jaws  of  death.  My 
first  impulse,  after  raising  my  heart  in  gratitude  to  that  God  who 
had  preserved  me,  was  to  see  whether  my  little  picture  was  safe 
at  my  heart;  it  was  there!  I  look  a  long,  long  look  at  the  sweet 
face  of  her  who  had  made  summer  of  my  gloomy  winter,  and  thank- 
ed God  again  for  having  preserved  my  lite. 

January  12th.  I  have  just  returned  from  a  night  in  the  trenches, 
having  just  come  off  the  sick  list.  Last  Sunday  I  was  unable  to 
leave  my  tent,  but  had  a  happy  communion  with  Jesus  in  my  soli- 
tude. *  *  *  1  find  more  and  more  every  day  how  little  I  can  depend 
on  the  feelings  of  my  heart  towards  Him,  but  my  comfort  is,  that 
"  Jesua  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  to  day,  and  forever."  During 
my  illness  I  was  very  happy,  but  for  some  days  past,  my  heart 
has  seemed  cold  and  dead.  What  a  lonely, gloomy  time  it  is,  when 
Jesus  withdraws  the  light  of  his  countenance,  but  nt  all  times,  I 
can  and  do  trust  His  love  and  tenderness,  and  1  feel  persuaded  Ho 
is  sending  me  the  trial  of  faith  to  draw  mc  nearer  to  Himself. 

Sunday,  February  11.  Alter  morning  service,  I  went  to  read  and 
pray  with  the  sick  in  the  hospital,  and  to  distribute  the  blessed 
cards  of  prayer,  for  which  the  poor  fellows  seemed  most  thankful. 
I  do  and  will  hope  that  many  who  have  gone  to  their  last  homes 
from  the  dreary  camp,  are  now  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  in  white 
robes.  May  not  a  broken  heart,  drawn  by  a  Saviour's  dying  lovo, 
to  make  known  its  wants  to  Him,  and  to  lean  its  hopes  of  pardon 
and  eternal  life  on  the  blood  of  the  Cross,  have  received  the  answer 
of  peace  direct  from  the  mercy  sent,  (where,  thank  God,  Jesus 
ever  pleads).     "  Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord!" 

Vou  ask  my  opinion  of  our  prospects.  I  do  not  take  the  gloomy 
views  of  the  newspapers— no.  Although  1  have  ^ven  many  a  no- 
ble soldier  laid  low  forever,  and  regiments  reduced  to  less  than  half 
theirnumber  by  sickness,  since  November,  I  have  no  fears  of  the 
ultimate  result  by  [he  help  of  God.  The  French  have  a  large  army, 
80,000  or  90,000' strong,  in  the  Crimea,  and  more  regiments  arriving 
every  day.  And  what,  with  these  and  12,000  British,  we  are  able  . 
to  defeat  any  Russian  armv  that  Meneehikoff  can  bring  against  us. 


THE    TRENCnES.  23 

The  boxes  sent,  &c,  have  arrived,  and  their  contents  are  invalua- 
ble. How  kind  in  that  lady  at  Torquay  to  cut  up  her  fur  cloak 
into  chest  preservers  for  the  soldiers. 

Sunday  Night,  18th.  This  has  been  a  bright  and  happy  day. 
We  had  Divine  ervice  near  the  Guard's  encampment,  but  the 
chaplain  was  not  there,  and  we  had  no  sermon.  We  therefore  had 
our  little  service  in  the  tent  soon  afterwards,  and  a  few  of  us  read 
and  prayed  together  this  evening.  My  mansion  is  much  more  com- 
fortable for  my  purposes  since  I  excavated  it ;  there  is  more  room 
and  it  is  wanner.  I  have  a  fire-place  now;  what  do  you  think  of 
that?  which  only  smokes  three  or  four  limes  a  day  ;  a  small  chair 
I  bought  at  Balaklava,  a  little  table  made  out  of  the  bottom  of  an 
old  case,  and  as  for  my  bed,  with  the  depth  of  that  fur;  why  it  is 
the  envy  of  all  who  see  it ;  and  though  the  others  beat  me  in  hav- 
ing bedsteads  and  double  tents,  I  think  my  bouse  now  the  most 
comfortable  in  the  camp,  and  at  all  events  it  will  be.  when  the  can- 
dlestove  arrives. 

Feb.  19.  On  my  return  to  my  tertt,  I  found  there  Mr.  Duncan 
Matheson,  the  soldier's  missionary.  We  read  the  third  chapter  of 
Ephesians,  and  he  prayed  with  me.  When  he  left,  I  paw  that  three 
of  my  brother  officers  were  standing  close  by  ;  they  must  have 
heard  that  fervent  prayer.  Who  knows  but  that  one  of  them  niny 
be  led  to  pray  for  himself  this  night.  God  grant  ii  !  One  of  these 
three  said  to  me  the  other  day,  "  Vicars,  I  dreamed  about  you  the 
other  night,  and  I  thought  you  were  speaking  to  m#uboul  religion." 
"  Well,  and  did  you  like  it?"  I  said.  "  Yes,  very  much,"  h«  re« 
plied.  May  the  Lord  give  me  courage  to  speak  faithfully  and  ear- 
nestly, and  bless  my  feeble  words  to  his  soul's  good,  for  Jesus'  sake. 

To  his  sister,  Lady  Rayleigh,  he  writes  : 

Camp  before  Sebastopol,  Feb.  23"d,  1856. 

My  own -muck  loved  Sister  :  A  thousand  thanks  for  the  wel- 
come presents  of  warm  clothing,  &c,  &e.  Everything  I 
have  seen  is  just  what  I  wanted.  All  my  company  no*v, 
thanks  to  your  kindness,  are  well  supplied  with  everything 
requisite  to  keep  out  the  cold. 

"  I  have  seen  my  old  friend  Cay,  of  the  Coldstream  Guards, 
several  times,  and  have  enjoyed  sweet  Christian  converse 
with  him.  I  gave  him  several  of  dear  L.'s  cards  of  prayer, 
and  when  I  went  on  Sunday  to  the  Guard's  LI  spiral,  I  ob- 
served one  fastened  to  each  bed.  It  made  rne  glad  to  see 
weary  and  dying  eyes  resting  on  the  words,  '•  Oh  God  !  wash 
me  from  all  my  sins  in  my  Saviou?-'s  blood,  and  I  shall  be  whiter 
than  snow.     Fill  m  with  the  Holy  Ghost  for  Jtsus  Christ  sake.'' 


24  THE   TRENCHES. 

Ma-rch  4th — Sunday. — "  Had  Divine  service  in  the  camp. 
Service  in  the  tent  and  barracks  ;  and  again  in  the  evening 
— seven  present.  Afterwards  took  a  short  walk  with  Tan- 
deleur,  Craigie  and  Anderson,  of  the  Engineers  ;  read  ar.d 
prayed  with  Major  Ingram  and  Lieut.  Deiman,  in  the  latter's 
tent.     Oh,  what  a  happy  day  this  has  been." 

This  part  of  Hedley  Vicars'  diary  brings  to  us  his  last 
letter,  written  to  the  much  loved  friend  who  compiled  the 
beautiful  memoirs  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken: 

"  Your  letter  of  the  10th  contains  no  small  comfort  for  me. 
I  bless  God  that  my  L —  is  with  her  more  than  mother  to  be 
comforted  in  these  dark  days.  How  I  have  blessed  you  in 
my  heart  for  all  your  love  to  us  both. 

"  Major  Ingram  is  one  pf  my  best  friends,  and  a  true 
Christian.  We  have  often  read  and  prayed  and  held  com- 
munion together.  Douglas  Macgiegor  is  very  dear  to  me. 
He  is  a  very  young  man  and  full  of  high  spirits  ;  which 
might  now  and  then  carry  him  away,  were  he  not  continu- 
ally seeking  to  have  more  and  more  of  the  mind  of  Christ, 
and  in  these  soiemn  seasons  his  thoughts  turn  often  heaven- 
wards. Do  not  cease  to  pray  for  him  and  for  my  subaltern 
Brinkley,  that  they  may  be  good  and  fearless  soldiers  of  Je- 
sus Christ.  Macgregor  is  the  officer  who  asked  soma  weeks 
ago  to  be  my  companion  in  visiting  the  hospitals,  adding 
with  characteristic  ingenuousness,  'I  have  just  been  read- 
ing the  words'  '  I  was  sick  and  ye  visited  me  not,'  and  I 
should  not  like  my  Saviour  to  be  addressing  these  words -to 
me.'  Yesterday  I  visited  the  hospitals,  and  read  the  12th 
chap,  of  Heb.  to  a  poor  dying  man  who*  had  beckoned  me 
to  do  so  when  I  *vas  at  the  other  end  of  the  ward.  Pie  was 
low  and  wretched,  but  seemed  cq.mforted  when  I  spoke  of 
the  'blood  that  cleanseth  from  all  sin.'  " 

March  16. — "We  have  lately  lost  several  men  in  the 
trenches.  On  Wednesday  last,  Capt.  Craigie,  of  the  Engi- 
neers, who  regularly  attended  our  Sabbath  prayer  meetings, 
was  killed  by  a  shell  in  the  middle  ravine,  I  was  on  pic- 
quet  there  on  that  day,  and  he  was  struck  only  a  few  minutes 
before  I  came  up  with  my  men.  Poor  fellow  !  he  was  quick- 
ly called  into  eternity,  for  he  never  spoke,  but  fell  instantly 


THI   TRFNCHItS,  25 

after  being  hit.  I  feel  sure  be  was  ready,  and  is  now  safe 
forever!  I  liked  him  very  much,  and  his  deatk  has  thrown 
a  gloom  over  our  small  band.  We  were  turned  out  the  night 
before  last  by  a  heavy  fire  in  our  front;  It  lasted  about  20 
minutes,  when  it  ceased  entirely;  and  ere  long  we  were 
alarmed  by  another  cannonade,  and  we  once  more  Mood  to 
arms.  It  was  a  fine  starlight  night,  and  as  I  stood  gazing 
in  the  direction  of  the  fusillades,  I  thought  I  had  never  wit- 
nessed such  an  imposing  spectacle.  Shells,  in  quick  succes- 
sion, were  shooting  up  into  the  air,  with  the  bright  grare  of 
artillery  reflecting  over  the  brow  of  the  hills  in  our  front, 
and  the  lurid  flashes  of  musketry,  as  volley  after  volley 
chimed  in,  accompanied  by  the  wild  cheers  of  the  combat- 
ants, which  we  could  plainly  hear  at  intervals,  even  amidst 
the  deafening  noise.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  all  was 
quiet,  and  we  again  in  our  tents.  It  was  an  attack  made 
by  the  French  on  the  Russian  advanced  work,  from  which 
they  drove  the  enemy,  and  were  in  their  turn  driven  out.  *  * 

"  We  are  anxiously  expecting  the  batteries  to  open  iu 
good  earnest,  but  they  say  there  is  not  shot  or  shell  enough 
up  yet.  My  love  to  your  beloved  father.  I  enclose  a  letter 
to  my  own  L — .  God  bless  you  my  most  beloved  mother — . 
sister.  Jesus  is  near  and  very  precious  to  my  heart  and 
soul.     May  he  ever  be  to  you  also. 

Ever  your  most  warmly  attached  son  and  brother, 

Medley." 

On  the  Sabbath  which  followed,  his  last  on  earth,  Hedley 
seemed,  like  Moses,  to  have  climbed  the  mountains  where 
the  promised  land  was  seen,  and  to  have  caught  the  dawn 
of  the  eternal  Sabbath  so  near  at  hand.  Then  came  the 
day  appointed  for  humiliation  and  fasting  and  prayer.  He 
had  earnestly  desired  its  appointment.  In  some  of  his  let- 
ters he  expressed  his  belief,  that  till  God  was  honored  as  a 
nation  in  the  ascription  of  victory  to  His  power,  and  in  the 
acknowledgment  of  His  chastening  hand  in  defeat,  we  could 
scarcely  expect  success.  He  kept  the  day  as  a  solemn  fast 
before  the  Lord.  After  morning  parade,  Hedley  Yicar3 
walked  with  Major  Ingram  to  see  the  sun  rise  in  the  valley  • 
of  Tehernaya,  and  by  the  burning  of  their  hearts  by  the  way, 
it  seemed  that  Jesus   himself  drew  nigh  and  went  with 


2JB  THE    VICTORY. 

tliem.  The  evening  wa6  passed  in  communion  wiih  his  be- 
loved friend  Cay,  who  can  never  forget  the  tone  of  that  last 
conversation.  It  seemed  as  if  the  spirit  of  his  young  com- 
panion had  alrea'dy  taken  wings,  and  "was  in  Heaven 
before  he  came  there."  Late  that  night  he  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing words ; 

'•  God  bless  those  whose  exertions  have  been  the  means 
of  bringing  about  this  day  of  national  prayer.  I  look  for 
great  results  from  the  pruyers  that  have  ascended  to  heaven 
this  day,  and  have  been  presented  by  our  great  Intercessor 
before  the  throne  of  God.  I  have  felt  the  day  to  be  just  like 
Sunday,  and  have  derived  much  comfort  from  communion 
with  my  God  and  Saviour.  We  had  two  text  services  ;  Van- 
deleur  came  both  times;  spent  the  evening  with  Cay;  I  read 
Isaiah  41st,  and  he  prayed.  We  walked  together  during 
the  day  and  exchanged  our  thoughts  about  Jesus." 

Thus  the  la3t  words  he  ever  wrote  was  the  name  he  loved 
best. 

One  other  fragment  was  found  in  his  desk,  addressed  to 
her  whom  ho  loved  with  the  power  of  a  true  and  manly- 
heart,  yet  does  it  speak  of  joy  and  gladness  from  another 
source  than  that  most  tender  love. 

"  The  greater  part  of  another  month  is  past,  and  here  I 
am  kept  by  the  protecting  arm"of  the  Almighty  from  all 
harm.  I  have  been  in  many  a  danger  by  night  and  day 
since  I  last  wrote  to  you  my  own  beloved,  and  the  Lord  has 
delivered  me  from  them  all,  and  not  only  so,  but  he  has 
likewise  kept  me  in  perfect  peace,  and  made  me  glad  with 
the  light  of  his  countenance.  In  Jesus  I  find  all  I  want  of 
happiness  or  enjoyment,  and,  as  week  after  week  and  month 
after  month  roll  by,  I  believe  he  is  becoming  more  and  more 
lovely  in  my  eyes,  and  precious  to  my  soul. 

Twenty-four  hours  more  and  he  ffas  "seen  the  King  in 
his  beauty." 

THE  VJCTORY. 

The  night  of  the  22d  of  March  was  dark  and  dreary. 
The  wind  rose  high  and  swept  across  the  Crimea.    There 


THE   VICTORY.  27 

was  for  the  time  a  stillness  over  the  armies  like  the  calm 
before  a  tempest. 

At  the  advanced  post  of  the  British  iorces,  On  the  side 
nearest  the  French,  was  a  detachment  of  the  97th  Regiment, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Vicars.  No  watch  fire  on  that  post  of 
danger  might  cast  its  light  as  aforetimes  upon  the  book  of 
God,  yet  was  that  place  of  peril  holy  ground.  Once  more 
the  night  breeze  bore  away  the  hallowed  sounds  of  prayer. 
One  stern  duty  more,  oh!  soldier  and  Christian,  and  realities 
more  lovely  and  glorious  than  it  hath  entered  into  the  heart 
of  man  to  conceive,  shall  satisfy  thy  soul. 

Soon  alter  ten  tt'clock  that  night  a  loud  firing  commenced, 
and  was  sustained,  in  the  direction  of  the  Victoria  redoubt 
opposite  the  Malakoff  tower.  Taking  advantage  of  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  a  Russian  force  of  15,000  men  issued 
from  Sebastopol.  Preserving  a  sullen  silence,  they  approach- 
ed from  the  Mamelon  under  cover  of  the  fire  of  their  ambus- 
cades, and  effected  an  entrance  into  the  French  advanced 
parallel,  before  an  alarm  could  be  given  to  the  sentries. 
After  a  short  but  desperate  struggle,"  the  French  were  ob- 
liged to  fall  back  on  their  reserve. 

The  column  of  the  enemy  then  marched  along  the  paral- 
lel, and  came  up  the  ravine  on  the  right  of  the  British  lines 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  them  into  the  flank  and  rear.  On 
their  approach  being  observed,  they  were  supposed  to  be 
the  French,  as  the  ravine  separated  the  allied  armies.  Hed- 
ley  Vicars  was  the  first  to  discern  that  they  were  Russians. 

With  a  coolness  and  judgment  that  seems  to  have  called 
forth  admiration  from  all  quarters,  he  ordered  his  men  to  lie 
down  until  the  Russians  came  within  20  paces.  Then  with 
his  first  war-shout,  ,;  Now,  97th,  on  your  pins  and  charge," 
himself  foremost  in  the  conflict,  he  led  his  men  on  to  victory, 
charging  two  thousand  with  a  force  of  barely  two  hundred. 
A  bayonet  wound  in  the  breast  only  seemed  to  (ire  his  cour- 
age the  more  and  again  h:s  voice  rose  high,  "  Men  ol  the 
97th  follow  me,"  as  he  leaped  that  parapet  he  lad  so  nobly 
defended,  and  charged  the  enemy  down  the  ravine. 

One  moment  a  struggling  moonbeam  fell  upon  his  flashing 
sword,  and  he  waved  it  through  the  air  with  the  last  cheer 
for  his  men,  "  This  way  97th."   The  next  moment  the  strong 


28  THE   VICTORY. 

arm  which  had  been  uplifted  hung  powerless  by  his  side, 
and  he  fell  amidst  his  enemies.  But  friends  followed  fast, 
his  men  fought  their  way  through  the  ranks  of  the  Russians 
to  defend  the  parting  life  of  the  leader  they  loved.  In  their 
arms  they  bore  him  back,  amidst  shouts  of  a  victory  so  dear- 
ly bought.  Captain  Browne  found  a  stretcher,  and  placing 
his  friend  up'on  it,  cooled  his  fevered  lips  with  a  draught  of 
water.  To  each  inquiry  Hedley  Vicars  answered  cheer- 
fully, that  he  believed  his  wound  was  slight,  but  a  main 
artery  had  been  severed,  his  life  blood  flowed  fast. 

A  few  paces  onward,  and  he  faintly  said,  "  Cover  my 
face!  cover  my  face !"  What  need  for  covering  under  the 
shade  of  that  dark  night?  Was  it  not  a  sudden  conscious- 
ness that  he  was  entering  into  the  presence  of  that  Holy 
God  befora  whom  the  cherubim  veil  their  faces?  As  the 
soldier  laid  him  do\*  n  at  the  door  of  his  tent,  he  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus,  to  awake  up  after  His  likeness  and  be  satisfied 
with  it.  h  We  asked  life  of  Thee,  and  Thou  gavcst  it  him, 
even  length  of  days  for  ever  and  ever." 

A  passage  in  the  despatch  from  Lord  Raglan,  published 
on  Good  Friday,  April  6th,  closed  the  last  door  of  hope,  that 
there  might  be  some  mistake  in  the  telegraphic  notice  of 
Captain  Vicars'  death  : 

Camp  before  Sebastopol,  March  24,  1855. 

Earfv  in  the  night  a  serious  attack  waB  made  before  the  works  of 
our  allies,  in  frout  of  the  Victoria  redoubt,  opposite  the  MalakofT 
vower.  The  night  was  very  dark, -and  the  wind  so  high  that  the 
firing  which  took  place,  and  which  was  very  heavy,  could  scarcely 
be  heard  in  the  British  camp  ;  it  is  therefore  difficult  to  speak  with 
certainty  of  what  occurred  from  anything  that  could  be  heard,  or 
observed  at  the  moment.  It  appears,  however,  that  the  Russians, 
nfter  attacking  the  head  of  the  Sap,  which  tho  French  were  carry- 
ing on  towards  the  Mamclon,  fell  with  two  heavy  masses  on  their 
new  parallel,  to  the  rear  of  which  they  succeeded  in  penetrating 
und  momentarily  possessing,  after  a  gallant  resistance  on  the  part 
of  our  allies. 

Having  broken  through,  they  paused  along  the  parallel  and  in 
rear  of  it,  ui. til  they  ctuno  in  contact  with  troops  stationed  in  our 
advanced  parallel,  extending  into  the  ravine  from  the  right  of  our 
udvance,  where  it  connects  with  the  French  trenches.  The  enemy 
was  here  met  by  detachments  of  the  77th  and  97th  regiments,  form- 
ing part  of  the  guard  of  the  trencbf  p,  who*  although  thus  suddenly 


THE   viCToat.  29 

taken  both  in  flank  and  rear,  behaved  with  the  utmost  gallantry  and 
coolness. 

The  detachment  of  the  97th,  which  was  on  the  extreme  right, 
and  which,  consequently,  first  came  in  contact  with  the  enemy,  re- 
pulsed the  attack  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  They  were  led  by 
Captain  Vicars,  who  unfortunately  lost  "his  life  on  the  occasion,  and 
I  aui  assured  that  nothing  could  be  more  distinguished  than  the 
gallantry  and  good  example  which  he  set  to  the  men  under  his 
command. 

By  the  same  post,  the  following  letter  confirmed  the  fata! 
tidings  : 

Camp  before  Sbbastopol, * — . 

To  Ix>rd  Rayleigh — My  Lord  :  It  is  with  the  deepest  sorrow  that 
I  Write  to  announce  the  death  of  Capt.  Vicars  of  the  97th  regiment. 
He  was  killed  last  night  in  the  trenches,  while  gallantly  cheering 
on  his  men  to  the  attack  of  a  body  of  the  enemy,  who,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  the  darkness  of  the  night,  got  close  into  our  trenches. 
From  what  1  can  hear  of  the  wflair,  he  rushed  bravely  in  the  midst 
of  them,  knocked  down  two,  and  was  in  the  act  of  striking  a  third, 
when  one  of  them  shot  him  through  the  right  arm,  high  up,  close 
to  the  shoulder — the  ball  divided  the  principal  artery,  and  he  must 
soon  have  bled  to  death,  therefore,  it  13  a  melancholy  pleasure  to 
learn  that  his  sufferings  were  short. 

I  cannot  express  my  own  sorrow  and  that  of  the  regiment  at  the 
loss  of  so  valuable  an  officer,  further  than  to  6ay  as  it  regards  my- 
self, I  feel  that  I  have  lost  a  brother.  It  was  in"  his  society  I  felt 
the  happiest.  As  it  regards  the  regiment,  ho  cannot  be  Replaced. 
Contemplating  his  melancholy  loss  in  the  light  of  a  Christian,  we 
indeed  ought  not  to  sorrow  as  those  who  havo  no  hope,  for  1  feel 
sure,  no  officer  in  the  whole  army  was  more  prepared  to  meet  his 
Saviour.  I  write  to  your  Lordship,  as  he  told  one  of  the  officers 
his  mother  was  with  you,  and  gave  direction,  in  case  (as  he  said)  of 
anything  happening  to  him.  1  am,  &c,  &c, 

T.  O.  W.  Ingram, 
Major  97th  Regiment. 

The  following  letter  from  his  beloved  friend,  Douglas 
Macgregor,  closes  our  extracts  from  the  "Life  of  Hedley 
Vicars." 

Camp  before  Sebaitopol,  March  23,  1855. 

To  Lady  Macgregor— Dear  Mother :  This  is  a  dark  and  gloomy 
day  with  me.  My  heart  is  wrung,  my  eyes  red  and  hot  with  cry- 
ing— 1  feel  gloomy  and  sorrowful  altogether.  My  dear  friend  Vicara 
w&i  killed  last  night.    The  Russians  made  a  eortie,  and,  whilst 


30  TttE    VICTORY. 

ptllftntly  leading  on  a  handful  of  our  men  to  charge  their,  cutsicta 
our  works,  he  wus  mortally  wounded  by  a  ball  sinking  his  right 
brea>t.  He  died  soon  after,  and  is  now  enjoying  a  glorious  rest  in 
the  presence  of  his  Saviour.  1  do  not  pity  him.  What  more  could 
We  wish  for  him?  He  wan  fully  prepared  for  the  most  sudden 
death,  and  died  bravely  fighting  and  doing  hi*  duty.  But  my  heart 
bleeds  for  the  loss  of  my  dearest  friend,  and  for  the  sake  of  his  poor 
mother  and  family.  Such  a  death  became  such  a  fife  and  BU.cn  a 
soldier.  The  most  gallant,  the  most  cheerful,  the  happiest,  the 
most  universally  respected  officer,  and  the  most  conscientious 
Christian  soldier,  1ms  heen  taken  from  us  by  that  fatal  bullet,  and  1 
know  not  how  to  live  without  him.  He  was  my  truest  friend,  my 
most  cheerful  companion,  and  my  friendly  counseller  on  all  occa- 
sions. But;  as  his  sergeant  remarked  hitterly  this  morning,  "He 
was  too  good  to  live  !"  Oh,  how  ninny  little  schemes  of  mine  doen 
it  put  an  end  to  !  I  hncl  fondly  hoped  that  he  would  live  to  go 
homo,  and  that  I  might  bring  my  dear  friend  lo  you  and  proudly 
show  him  as  a  specimen jof  what  a  model  soldier  Fhonld  I.e.  But 
Goers  Ways  are  not  our  ways.  He  spared  him  from  the  .horrible 
death  of  suffocation  by  charcoal,  for  a  few  montliB,  that  he  might 
die  a  soldier's  death. 

l<  Noble  fellow  !  he  rushed  in  front  of  his  men,  and  his  powerful 
nrm  made  more  than  one  Russian  fall  before  that  cruel  bullet 
brought  bill)  down.  It  must  have  heen  fired  close  to  him,  fbr  his 
coat  was  singed.  When  I  heard  at  daylight  this  morning  thai  Vic- 
ars had  been  brought  home  dead,  you  may  imagine  my  rri-.f.  I 
loved  that  mart  as  dearly  as  a  brother,  and  it  Bee  ma  that  I  almost 
hear  his  voice  sounding  in  my  ears  us  ho  read,  two  days  ago,  the 
service  when  some  of  us  met  on  the  day  of  humiliation.  There 
was  n  little  locket  he  always  wore  around  his  neck,  and  I  remem- 
ber when  he  heard  that  we  were  to  come,  here,  ho  said,  '  We  should 
nil  be  prepared  to  give  directions  what  we  wish  done  in  cuee  wc 
get  killed  ;  for  instance,  1  have  got  a  little  book  of  Psalms  and  a 
locket,  which  I  would  wish  sent  home  in  case  I  die.'  1'oor  fellow! 
I  remembered  this,  und  as  I  took  the  locket  {u  small  gold  one  which 
opens  like  a  watch)  und  has  u  small  picture  sprinkled  with  his  life 
blood,  1  cried  so  that  I  thought  I  would  get  ill.         *         *         * 

*'Oh  his  poor  mother  and  sisters  that  he  loved  so  dearly  !  Bit 
flhe  is  a  Christian,  and  has  lived  to  see  her  once  wild  and  "reckless 
son  come  to  the  fold  of  Jesue,  and  prove  bin  sincerity  by  a  long  and 
consistent  course.  1  also  cut  a  lock  of  his  fine  curly  hair  this 
morning,  us  I  know  his  mother  would  like  to  get  it.  If  I  were  to 
try  to  write  all  the  good  that  my  beloved  friend  did,  1  should  not 
have  room.  How  he  fearlessly  visited  and  spoke  to  the  meu  in  the 
worrit  times  of  cholera,  but,  us  he  told  me,  he  got  his  reward,  for 
the  soldier's  dying  lips  besought  blessings  on  his  head.  Oh,  how 
happy  he  i*  now  '     Such  a  death  and  such  a  glory  now  '     Even  in 


THE    VICTORY.  31 

ifaafb,  Fws  habitual  boppy  Bimta  did  not  forsake  him.  Tin5-  Lord 
knew  when  and  liow  lo  take  him;  but  it  ia  a  severe  and  unspeaka- 
bly painful  trial  to  me. 

*•  Every  one  liked  and  respected  Vicars;  even  those  who  did  not 
agree  wi>h  bis  strict  religion,  and  those  who  had  known  bim  so  long 
Ha  the  leader  of  every  mad  riot,  when,  after  watching  bim  closely 
for  yean?,  and,  finding  that  once  enlisted  in  Christ's  army,  be  never 
flinched,  at  Vast  gave  in,  and  acknowledged  that  Vicars,  at  any  rate , 
was  a  true  Christian. 

"Our  men  got  great  praise  for  the  fight  last  night  j  but  who  would 
not  go  any  where  with  such  a  leader?  Some  how  1  passed  a  restless, 
sleepless  night,  and  I  then  heard  different  arrivals  of  wounded  men, 
but  did  not  know  that  my  poor— no  my  happy— friend,  was  among 
the  number,  until  parade  at  day-break.  If  you  have  not  lost  that 
crocus  that  Vicars  sent  a  few  wceka  ago,  please  to  keep  it.  Ob, 
*  blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.' 

,  «•  Farewell,  Vicars,  my  loved  companion!  I  knew  when  he  went 
into  action  he  would  show  that  a  Christian  soldier  was  a  brave  as 
well  as  a  bappv  man.  1  do  not  exactly  know  how  it  all  was  ;  I 
onlv  vouch  for  the  above  facts,  and  the  terrible  reality  of  poor  Vic- 
ars' noble  frame  lying  in  the  hospital  lent,  where  1  saw  it.  Cod 
bless  you,  dear  mother,  and  may  He  sanctify  this  severe  trial^  to 
my  soul.  Your  own  Douglas.' 

Six  months  more,  and  Douglas  Macgregor  and  Hedley 
Vicars  had  met  again—"  Lovely. and  pleasant  in  their  lives, 
in  their  death  they  were  not  long  divided." 

Bright  as  the  young  survivor's  Christian  life  bad  been  he  = 
fore,  it  cloared  into  yet  fuller  lustre  during  those  short  six 
months  ere  his  sun  went  down  at  noon.  He  regularly  visit, 
ed  the  hospitals  to  read  and  pray  with  the  sick  and  dying, 
and  in  everything  sought  to  follow  in  the  steps  of  bis  be- 
loved friend. 

On  the  fatal  8th  of  September,  twin  he  fought  hia  way  into 
the  Redan— the  second  time  to  come  no  more  out.     He  was 
found  far  advanced  on  that  red  ground,  lying  by  a  cannon 
■  in  the  sleep  of  death — 

The  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  ttead  shall  be  raised. 

These  brief  extracts  from  the  life  of  this  noble  Christian 
soldier  are  concluded— with  the  humble,  earnest  prayer  that 
every  soldier  of  our  Confederate  army  may  follow  Hedley 
Vicar9,  aa  he  followed  Jesus,  the  groat ^  Captain  of  our  Sal- 
vation. 


